Our Buildings
Swindon Heritage Preservation is Swindon’s only Building Preservation Trust. We combine community usage with building restoration, conservation, and history.
We seek to maximise our social impact through the use of our buildings. You can hire our facilities, visit our house caught in time at the Railway Village Museum, and get involved in events and activities happening all year round.
We look after a number of heritage buildings located in Swindon’s historic Railway Village. Explore the map below and discover which buildings we look after. Click on the buildings and learn your way around the Railway Village:
© Illustration created by Mary Parsons
Central Community Centre
The Central Community Centre is a thriving hub of activity located in Emlyn Square and is home to a number of community groups.
It is operated by SHP following its transfer from Swindon Borough Council in February 2014.
It was originally built in 1862 as an Armoury to serve the XI Wiltshire Volunteer Rifle Corps, before being converted into the GWR Medical Fund Hospital in 1871.
The Railway Village Museum
Built as part of Swindon’s Railway Village in the 1840s, 34 Faringdon Road was originally the home of the Railway Works’ foreman.
In 1966, Swindon Borough Council began renovating many of the properties in Swindon Railway Village, having bought them from British Railways. Given the importance of the railway industry in Swindon’s development, it was decided to turn one of the cottages into a ‘Living Museum’, and so in March 1980, 34 Faringdon Road welcomed its first visitors.
In 2000 the Museum closed, but following renovation it reopened in 2017 and is now managed by SHP and our dedicated team of volunteers.
The Bakers'
The Bakers’ is our Heritage Hub at the heart of Swindon’s historic Railway Village, and is the primary location for many of our events, activities and workshops.
This unique location and café style layout is the ideal location for our volunteer programs and currently acts as our visitor engagement hub.
Formerly a Bakery, and then converted to the Bakers Arms Pub, the building was restored by SHP and now operates as a cosy community space that is available to hire.
The Cricketers'
Built in 1846, the Cricketers’ Arms originally operated as a pub and flats from 1859 until its closure in 2015. In 2019, SHP signed a 125-year lease on the Cricketers’ Arms from the Council.
We have now commenced a major project to repair and restore the building to make it fit for community use.
We have aspirations to introduce a number of new community facilities, and hope to use this building for education, engagement and visitor information.
The Mechanics’ Institute
The Mechanics’ Institute sits in the centre of the Railway Village and was built as a social, educational, and community centre, opened in 1855. It was later expanded in 1892, and refurbished in 1930 following fire damage. With the closure of the Railway Works, the Mechanics’ Institute closed in 1986 and has sat derelict since then.
SHP is working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council and other partners to find a solution to the ownership, rescue, and rehabilitation of the derelict building, which has been allowed to severely deteriorate over the past few decades.
As one of Swindon’s most prestigious and significant heritage assets, the rescue of the Mechanics’ is the primary objective of SHP although we do not currently own or lease the building.
Getting to Emlyn Square
Emlyn Square is easily reachable by train or bus, and we are only a short walking distance from the Central Bus Station.
There are also a number of Car Parks conveniently located around Swindon’s Railway Village, but we recommend using Bristol Street Car Park.